For parents and families:
In our lab, we conduct research aimed at understanding how young children grow and development. We are always looking for parents and children who are interested in participating in our studies and are currently recruiting for our Tech & Talking study!
If you are interested in participating in a current study, or joining our mailing list for future studies, contact us through the Contact tab, via Twitter (@LLDlab), Facebook (@LLDlab), or email LanguageLearningDevelopment@okstate.edu
What does participation include?
Typically, our studies require a one-time visit to our lab on the Oklahoma State University campus. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are running some studies virtually via Zoom/video conferencing. Participating typically requires some paperwork to be completed by the parent and then a visit either in-person or via Zoom in which your child will interact with the research assistant to complete a series of child-friendly activities. These sessions can be scheduled at your convenience for days, evenings, or weekends.
What precautions are being taken against COVID?
Multiple preventative measures are in place for all of our in-person studies. First, consistent with OSU policy, masks are expected for individuals over the age of two and will be worn by all research assistants during the session. Second, HEPA-grade air filters are run continuously in our experiment rooms. Sessions are also scheduled at least 1 hour apart for filtration time. Third, all individuals (research assistants and families) are screened for symptoms and exposure prior to arriving the lab. If an individual presents symptoms or has recently traveled or been possibly exposed to COVID-19, we will work with them to reschedule for at least a week later. Finally, if the rates of COVID in the Stillwater community rise substantially, all in-person sessions will be suspended until it is safe to resume. Additional precautions may be implemented upon request.
Who will I be working with?
All of our studies are run by trained research assistants that have substantial experience with children. All research assistants are directly supervised by Dr. Kucker.
Can I stay with my child the entire time?
Yes, our studies are designed to be flexible to accommodate both parents and children. During our in-lab studies, there is plenty of space in our lab for both you and your child. For our virtual studies, your child can sit by themselves on camera, or on your lab - whichever is most comfortable for you and them.
What if I have other children? Can siblings come along?
During our in-lab studies, siblings are more than welcome. In fact, we can arrange for a research assistant to babysit the sibling in our waiting room during the study. Infant siblings are welcome to come into the experiment room with you if you prefer as long as they are not a distraction to your child who is participating in the study. For online studies, we will ask that siblings simply try to remain off camera if possible for privacy reasons.
What do I get for participating?
After participating, your child will receive a small prize (e.g. a story book or certificate) and we will provide you with informal feedback about your child's performance compared to other children his/her age. Depending on the study, we may also offer monetary compensation (e.g. $20).
Is there anything else I should know?
All of our projects are approved by the Internal Review Board at Oklahoma State University. This means that our projects have been reviewed by a panel of faculty members and deemed to be ethical, scientifically beneficial, appropriate for the population (children), and meets a high scientific standard. The projects are all also directly supervised by Dr. Sarah Kucker, a faculty member in psychology with over a decade of experience in research and child development.
Are there more studies I can do?
Yes! When we or our colleagues at OSU have another in-lab study, we will reach out. In the meantime, you can participate in studies virtually! Our friends at https://childrenhelpingscience.com/ have hundreds of studies from researchers across the world for parents and children of different ages (sometimes including our own studies too). Check it out!
Where can I get more information about child development?
There are a lot of great references online, as well as some not so great. Below are links to some of our favorite empirically-based resources.
The Zero to Three program has good information on milestones for your child, advice on screen time, and advice for fostering learning in all children from birth through preschool.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/301-tips-on-learning-to-talk
The Harvard Center for the Developing Child has a lot of resources, including the following video on how play is beneficial.
Some of our colleagues at the the Boys Town National Research Hospital aim to increase awareness about language delays and Developmental Language Disorder - a disorder more prevalent than autism.
The Lego Foundation (yes, the same one that makes those colorful toy blocks) has an education initiative on on improving development for ALL children across all backgrounds, cultures, and environments.
https://www.legofoundation.com/en/why-play/
Can you suggest any readings where I can learn more?
Yes! Below are a few great easy-to-read articles on the science behind how children learn to talk.
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This first is an article (here) on language development from a recent parenting magazine, written by a lab colleague trained in the science of child development.
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The article here is written by an expert in the field, but reviewed by a kid who asked real-life questions and helped improve the paper before it was posted online. It's targeted toward both older kids and adults that don't have a background in psychology. https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2017.00045
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Each year, we put together a short newsletter that gives an overview of the work we've done for the past year. If you are interested in more information about our lab specifically, check out the most recent one here!